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This page is general information about UAE VAT as it relates to buying hosting. It is not tax advice. Rules and thresholds can change; check with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) or a registered tax agent for your situation.
The basics
- UAE VAT was introduced on 1 January 2018 at a standard rate of 5%.
- Hosting, domains, SSL and email are services, and are generally subject to VAT at the standard rate when supplied to customers in the UAE.
- Our prices are shown before tax: VAT 5% where applicable. The full total, with any VAT, is shown in the order form before you pay.
What appears on your invoice
When VAT is charged, your invoice shows the amount before tax, the VAT amount and the total. Add your company name and, if you have one, your Tax Registration Number (TRN) to your account details before ordering, so they appear on the invoice. You can choose AED in the currency menu so prices and invoices are in dirhams.
Buying from providers outside the UAE
When a UAE VAT-registered business buys services from a supplier outside the UAE, the reverse charge mechanism generally applies: the business accounts for the VAT itself in its VAT return instead of the supplier charging it. Businesses that are not registered usually do not account for it this way. Ask your tax adviser how this applies to you.
Can a business reclaim it?
A VAT-registered business can generally recover input VAT on business expenses, including hosting, when it holds a valid tax invoice and the expense relates to taxable supplies. Keep your invoices; you can download them any time from the client area.
Checklist before you order
- Company name and address on your account match your trade licence.
- TRN added to your account details, if you are VAT-registered.
- Billing currency chosen (AED or another available currency).
- Invoices downloaded each period for your bookkeeping.